And force-shaping board for officers set for July

Jan. 28, 2014 - 10:52PM
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Some captains and majors who are eligible for a reduction-in-force board can apply for voluntary separation between Feb. 6 and May 1.

The Air Force Personnel Center officially announced the RIF board and the voluntary separation window Jan. 27. A Dec. 23 memo obtained by Air Force Times previously said the voluntary separation window would be from Jan. 14 to May 1. AFPC spokesman Mike Dickerson said that memo was not finalized.

Officers who are approved for voluntary separation instead of meeting the board will receive 1.25 times the standard full separation pay, and would have to separate on Sept. 29. Those who are chosen to be separated by the RIF board will have to leave no later than Jan. 31, 2015, and will receive the standard separation payment.

Officers also have until March 26 to apply for Temporary Early Retirement Authority, which allows them to retire with as little as 15 years of service.

Officers who will be considered by the RIF board, which will convene June 16, are:

■ Captains in the year groups 2005 to 2008 in the Line of the Air Force, Biomedical Sciences Corps, Dental Corps, Medical Corps, Medical Service Corps and Nurse Corps.

■ LAF majors in year groups 2001 to 2003.

■ Majors in year groups 1997 to 2007 in the Biomedical Sciences Corps, Dental Corps, Medical Corps, Medical Service Corps and Nurse Corps.

■ Line of the Air Force-Judge Advocate officers with a date of rank to major of May 1, 2010, toSept. 20, 2013.

Officers with fewer than six years of active commissioned time or 18 years or more of total active-duty service as of Jan. 31, 2015, will not be considered by the RIF board, nor will officers on an approved promotion list or those with less than a year of time in grade by Jan. 31, 2015.

AFPC also said it will convene a force shaping board July 14 to consider separating certain officers.

The board will consider active duty LAF captains and first lieutenants in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 year groups, as well as LAF-J officers with a date of rank to captain that falls during 2009, 2010 and 2011.

It will also consider officers in the medical categories in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 year groups, up to and including lieutenant colonels. Officers who are not selected for retention must separate no later than Dec. 31.

“The board will make its determination using information such as selection briefs, performance reports, training reports and decorations,” Lt. Col. Rick Garcia, AFPC retirements and separations branch chief, said in the release. “The board will also consider officers’ retention recommendation forms and any letters submitted by eligible officers to provide additional relevant information that is not included in other documents.”

The RIF board is one of 18 force management programs the Air Force is using throughout 2014 to help it trim the ranks and deal with the sequester’s budget cuts.

In a Roll Call message posted online Jan. 27, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody called the programs “a necessary step we must take as a force,” and urged leaders to share information on the programs with their airmen.

“As Air Force senior leaders ... we will share information as early and often as possible,” Cody said. “Supervisors and leaders, seek out that knowledge. Stay well versed on force management initiatives and how they affect your team. Commit to sitting down with each individual airman to talk through options and refer as appropriate to agencies that can provide additional information and support. Airmen must fully understand what’s in front of them so they can make clear, informed decisions. You must be honest and straightforward with airmen about where they stand and what options are available.”